Dáil finally passes Alcohol Bill

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The Alcohol Bill, which has been before the Oireachtas since 2015, has finally passed all stages of the Dáil.

The Public Health (Alcohol) Bill will allow for strict new measures aimed at reducing alcohol-related harm, including minimum unit pricing and cancer warnings on products.

The Minister for Health, Simon Harris, insisted that this Bill would contribute to changing the culture of drinking in Ireland.

"This is the first time in the history of our State we have endeavoured to use public health legislation to address issues in relation to alcohol. It is therefore a groundbreaking measure," he told the Dáil.

The Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, said that he was 'really pleased' that the Bill had passed all stages, adding that it will 'save countless lives'.

The Bill also allows for the segregation of alcohol sales in shops and strict advertising restrictions.

One of the biggest opponents to the Bill, Independent TD, Michael Healy-Rae, said that if you are ‘totally against alcohol, you are totally against the industry and you are totally against all these people who create an awful of employment, who collect an awful lot of tax'.

He insisted that there is nothing wrong with promoting alcohol in moderation.

The Bill will now be referred to the Seanad for final consideration before being signed into law by the President.